Loose leaf binder



Sept. 8, 1931. w. B. osMAN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. 12

TOR:

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 8, 1931 l f f 1,822,310 i' PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM B. OSMAN, E INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA j LoosE LEAF BINDER Application led August 12, 1929. Serial No. 385,387?.

This invention relates to the class of apparatus which is designed to be used for binding leaves of books together or vfor binding sheets of paper or other material, such as catalogues, price lists, photographic illustrations of factory products, wall paper samples, or other articles, the invention having reference more particularly to a loose leaf binder of the above-mentioned characterhaving means for sealing it so as to prevent changes of records without detection.

An Vobject of the invent-ion is to provide an improved loose leaf binder that shall be of such construction as to be adapted to re- 15.movably bind together a large number of book leaves or sheets into the form of a book and permit the insertion of additional leaves or sheets. Y

Another object isto provide an improved 205' loose leaf binder which shall be of simple construction and adapted tobe readily operated, and tobe easily handled or cared for.

`A further object is to provide an improved metallic loose leaf binder that shall be of such construction as to be adapted to have covers readily secured thereto, as dust guards or for other useful or ornamental purposes, and which shall be strong, durable and economical in use.' v

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in an improved loose leaf binder having novel features of construction enabling the binderv to be self-contained or unitary, and adapted to be readily attached to a cover, the invention including sealing means to insure permanency of bound records or other recorded matters of importance that may be required to be preserved without alterations; and further, the invention consists in the novel parts and in the combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the Vappended claims. Y

Referring to the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a perspective view of aV loose leaf binder constructed substantially in accordancewith the invention minus the sealing means which if present would ob 5 0 scure other important devices, portions of the cover structure; Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section of slot-closing means and securing means of the structure adapted tobe sealed looking upward as on Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a detail of a binding or clamp screw adapted to prevent its being carelessly withdrawn and misplaced; Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views Vof parts of novel sealing. devices comprised in the invention; and Fig. 10 isa sectional detail of the improved sealing device applied to t-he clamping devices of the binder.

Similar reference characters in the various figures of theV drawings indicate correspond ing elements or features of construction here in referred to in detail. p

A practical embodiment of the invention comprises oppositely arranged frame parts having plates 1 and 2 between which loose leaves or sheets are to be placed, the plate 1` having hollow posts 3 and 4 fixed thereon that telescopically receive smaller posts 5 and 6 secured to the opposite plate 2. Preferably the plate 1 is provided with thin posts 7 intermediately of the other posts, and the plate 2 is provided with a suitable number of hollow posts 8 telescopically co-operating with the posts 7. The plate 1 has relatively angular tie plates 9 and 10 on its opposite ends, the plate 2 having tie plates 11 and 12 on its opposite ends to adjustably co-operate with the plates 9 and 10 respectively to constitute longitudinally adjustable ties or end members of the binder frame. Each of the plates 9 and 10 is provided with a binding screw 13 threaded into a suitable hole adjacent to itsV end, the screw having a broad head 14 thereon; and' to prevent loss of the screws each one has a retaining screw 15 threaded therein and having a head 16 to engage the opposite side of the plate. As preferably constructed the screw 13 has a right-hand thread and the screw 15 has a left-hand thread to prevent separation of the screws when loose. The plates 11 and 12 have longitudinal slots 17 and 18 receiving the two clamp screws re= spectively and permitting the plates 11 and 12 to be drawn away from the plates 9 and 10 respectively. To prevent unintentional separation of the two parts of the frame the end of each slot 17 and 18 is closed by a suitable cross-bar or barrier 19 which may be permanently fixed in place but preferably has one end connected to the slotted tie plate by means of a pivot pin 20 and its opposite end latched to a stud 21 fixed to the plate on the opposite side of the slot, the bar 19 being composedL of spring-metal so that it can b e sprung into or out of Contact with the stud, the end of the bar being notched to receive a portion of the stud.

For the purpose of preventing access to the binding screws 13 if they Aare tightened following tne filling of the blinder with leaves or sheets, each screw head is covered and sealed by means of a cap 22 having opposite base plates 23 and 24 integral therewith that are placed against the outer side of the slotted tie plate and provided with upstanding slightly inclined spring-latches 25 on their inner edges whereby to secure the cap in place so as to effectively cover the screw head; A pair of cooperating clamps for each Acap is provided and comprises each a web plate 2G adapted to span the edges of the two tie sections and one of the base plates of the cap, and it has a relatively angular lip 27 adapted to engage the inner side of the inner one of the tie plate sections, the web having on its opposite edge a pair of fingers 28 spaced apart so as to span the edge of the cap and have 'connectlion with the fingers of the opposite clamp of the bar, as by tongue and groove connec tions 29 so as to form match-joints, each finger having an underecut notch 30 in its under side to receive one of the spring catches 25 under compression whereby to securely hold the plates 23 and 24 and the cap in place and prevent removal without,destructive violence and leaving evidence of tampering. rFhus the sealing of the binder is permanent.

The binder being self-contained may be used without a cover but preferably is provided with a separately made cover which for the purpose of minimizing lire hazards may be entirely or partially metallic` When composed of book cover material the cover comprises a stiii1 side base strip 31 having a relatively angular back portion 32, the strip being rigidly secured to the frame plate 1 by' means of screws 33, each screw preferably having a nut 34 thereon that is embedded in `the strip 31 and the frame plate, the portion 32 extending back oi' the tie plates. Like wise a strip 31 is similarly secured to thc frame plate 2 and has a back portion 32 extending in sliding connection with the back portion 32. The cover includes stiftq side boards 35 and 35 having each a flexible hinge-like connection 36 with the base strip 31:

n the event that metallic side boards 37 are preferred, a base strip or hinge plate 38 is provided and secured against the outer side of the frame plate 1 by means of the screws 33 and if desired is inserted between the frame plate and thelstrip 31 of the back portion. The Dlate 37 has hinge members 39 thereon matching hinge members 40 on the plate 38 and connected thereto by a hinge In practical use the loose leaves or sheets if they are perforated and also slitted in their back edge may be slipped onto the binder posts. The 'cross-harsh() are to be unlatched and swung to permit the screw 13 when slightly slackened to pass out of the slots 17 as the frame parts are drawn apart to separate the sections of the posts so that the post sections lmay be entered into perforations with which the loose leaves or sheets are usually provided. The frame parts are to be connected to ether as before and the leaves are to be ound together and to the frame plates 1 and 2 under more or less pressure as may be desired, after which the screws 13 are again tightened. When the binder is filled as may be desired the bindin screws may' b e covered and sealed as above escribed so as to prevent either extraction or insertion of leaves in the binder. The binder may be handled as in commonpractice to refer to or inspect the leaves or sheets bound therein.

YVhat is claimed is:

V1. A loose leaf binder having two relatively adjustable frame parts with posts thereon to hold leaves tog-ether, securing devices to rigidly fasten the frame parts together, two cover parts independently secured rigidly tvo the frame parts and having cooperating back portions, and sealing devices to conceal the ysecuring devices attachable securely together and to the frame parts l y v 2. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a pair of frame parts having ties connected thereto, each tie comprising a plain plate and a co-operating slotted plate, a binding screw threaded in the plain plate and extending through and engageable with the slotted plate, and a cross-bar pivoted on the slotted plate on one side of the slot and latched to the plate on the opposite side of the slot.

3. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a pair of frame parts having ties connected thereto,- each tie comprising a plain plate and a slotted co-operating plate, a binding screw threaded into the plain plate and operating in the slotted plate, co-operating posts on the is;

Fil

frame parts, and a plurality of sealing devices for the binding screws comprising each a cap to cover the screw head provided with base plates having spring-catches, and a pair of clamps having cooperating ngers having notches to hold the spring-catches.

4. In a loose leaf binder7 a binder frame comprising a pair of opposite frame plates, and a pair of extensible ties comprising each 10 a plain tie-plate fixed to one of the frame plates and a slotted tie-plate fixed to the remaining traine plate, co-operating post section secured to the frame plates respectively, binding screws threaded in the plain tie-plates respectively and operating in the adjacent slotted tie-plates respectively, each screw having a head thereon engaging the outer side of the slotted tie-plate, and two reverselypitched screws threaded into the inner ends of the binding screws respectively and having each a head to engage the inner side of the adjacent plain tie-plate.

In testimony whereof, I ax my signature on the 9th day of August, 1929.

, WILLIAM B. OSMAN. 

